The United Nations climate talks in Bonn, Germany, have once again raised questions about inclusivity and access, with concerns mounting over visa delays and shrinking civic space. This year's session, the 64th session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), is a critical moment for global climate action. However, the process is facing criticism for its exclusionary practices, particularly affecting those from developing countries who are most vulnerable to climate change.
One of the main issues is the limited access for civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists. The Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of over 2,500 CSOs, has been holding daily press briefings at UN climate talks for the last three decades. However, this year, CAN was allocated just five press conference slots for the entire conference, which was described as a 'deliberate narrowing of civic space' by Mohamed Adow, founder of Power Shift Africa. After an online outcry, the UN has now allocated CAN two additional press conference slots, but the damage has already been done.
The exclusion of CSOs and journalists is not only a loss for these organizations but also for the public. Civil society briefings are a vital source of independent information about what's happening behind closed doors in the negotiations. This is especially important given the cost, visa barriers, and shrinking newsroom budgets that prevent many journalists from attending in person.
The situation is further exacerbated by the growing presence of pro-oil lobbyists at these events. A 2025 analysis found that one in every 25 attendees at COP30 was a fossil fuel lobbyist, a 12% increase from the previous year. This concentration of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP is the largest since the coalition started tracking attendees in 2021. The UNFCCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the number of lobbyists attending this week's talks in Bonn.
The visa issues are particularly concerning. Many governments argue that negotiations require a controlled space to be effective, but Baboucarr Nyang of CAN Africa points out the difference between a quiet room and a closed one. He argues that negotiations can be focused and still be fair, but when African delegates, Pacific islanders, and frontline community representatives are consistently denied visas, delayed at borders, or priced out by soaring hotel costs, it's not process management; it's exclusion.
The impact of these visa delays and exclusions is felt most acutely by climate activists and grassroots organizations. Randa Khaled, from the Egyptian environmental organization Greenish, is one such activist who will likely miss the negotiations due to her visa application not being processed in time. She argues that the ongoing issue contradicts the heart of global climate governance and demands that mobility and access must be treated as part of climate justice itself.
The exclusion of these voices from the negotiations raises deeper questions about the principles of inclusion, equity, and participation that are repeatedly emphasized in climate talks. It also highlights the need for a more transparent and accountable process that allows for the participation of all stakeholders, particularly those from developing countries who are most affected by climate change.
In my opinion, the UN climate process must do more to protect the civic space that allows impacted communities and their representatives to be heard. The success of the Santa Marta conference on fossil fuels, which took place in April, shows that political initiatives can form outside of the formal UN process. However, the UN must also ensure that these initiatives are inclusive and accessible to all, particularly those from developing countries.
One thing that immediately stands out is the need for a more balanced representation of voices at the table. The growing presence of pro-oil lobbyists and the exclusion of CSOs and journalists are symptoms of a larger problem. The UN must take steps to ensure that the climate talks are truly representative of the global community and that all voices, particularly those from developing countries, are heard.
From my perspective, the UN climate process must be more transparent and accountable, and it must prioritize inclusivity and access. The success of climate action depends on the ability to bring together diverse voices and perspectives, and the UN must do more to ensure that this happens. Only then can we truly build trust and work towards a just transition for all.
